Torrential rain brings transportation to halt in Batticaloa villages

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 January 2004, 11:32 GMT]Continuous heavy rain in parts of Batticaloa district has brought travel in recently resettled villages of Vadamunai and Oothuchenai to a halt, civil society sources in Batticaloa said. Non-Governmental Organization, ZOA Foundation, is assisting transportation using small boats, according to residents.

The affected villages lie about 55km northwest of Batticaloa town.

Swelling waters of Maduru Oya due to unexpected rain in the river's watershed have flooded the region, sources said.

Residents of Vadamunai, Oothuchenai and other adjoing villages were resettled last year after spending nearly 13 years in refugee camps and staying with neighbors and relatives. After the signing of the MoU between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers, ZOA Foundation, under the Asian Development Bank funded North East Community Restoration and Development (NECORD) project assisted the villagers to resettle in their former places of residence.

Vadamunai and Oothuchenai villagers used the Kiran-Vadamunai road and Vellikanthai-Vadamunai roads as access paths to their villages. Ambunai bridge, the bridge at Vadamunai-Velikanthai road, and most stretches of these roads themselves were damaged during the war and were renovated during resettlement.

Villagers are appealing to the authorities to take action to repair the damaged bridges and roads to facilitate travel and to minimize damage from future floods.